The Missouri River is Bellevue's east boundary, and the river has a habit of showing up in the news and in basements. High water in 2011, March 2019 and June to July 2024 each tested the city in a different way.
Key takeaways
- River floodwater is treated as contaminated, so wet drywall, carpet and pad are usually removed rather than dried in place.
- Slow river water and fast creek water behave differently, and the cleanup plan changes with the source.
- The March 2019 flood covered about a third of Offutt Air Force Base and destroyed Haworth Park, which was later rebuilt.
- Bellevue is a National Flood Insurance Program community, but coverage depends on the policy, so check with your own insurer.
- Photograph the high water mark inside and outside the house before the cleanup erases it.
The river along the east side of Bellevue
The Missouri River forms the east boundary of Bellevue. When the river rises, it pushes water into low ground, storm drains and, in some cases, the ground beneath nearby homes.
The Big and West Papillion Creek confluence near 36th Street and Gilmore Road, the Offutt Ditch and the Papio Creek S-31 dam are also part of the local water picture. Each can add water when the river is already high.
- 2011: a long season of high river water.
- March 2019: flooding at Offutt Air Force Base and Haworth Park.
- June to July 2024: another round of high water.
- Levees near Offutt were raised after 2019.
What March 2019 showed
In March 2019 the Missouri River flooded about a third of Offutt Air Force Base and destroyed Haworth Park, which was rebuilt later. Haworth Park carries the March 2019 high water mark.
Most homeowners were not at the base or the park, but the event is the local reference for how high the river can get.
The takeaway for a basement owner is simple: river events are slow, long and wide. They are not a single bad afternoon.
How river water gets into a house
Water rarely arrives as a wave. It comes in several quiet ways, and a basement can have more than one at once.
Wet spots that appear along the base of a wall, rather than at a drain, usually point to groundwater rather than a plumbing problem.
Seepage and groundwater
When the river stays high for weeks, the ground fills and water pushes through basement walls and floor cracks.
This is the slow version of the problem. The floor is damp first, then wet, and the walls follow.
Drains and sump pits
A floor drain can take backed-up water when storm and sewer systems are full. A sump pit can overflow if the pump cannot keep up or the power is out.
If the water is from a drain, see the sewer backup section of the Bellevue sewer backup cleanup page, because the contamination class is different.
Why river water is treated as contaminated
Floodwater from the river carries soil, runoff, fuel and whatever else was on the ground. It is not clean water, even if it looks like muddy rainwater.
That is why the restoration team treats river flooding as contaminated. Porous materials that sat in it are usually removed, and hard surfaces are cleaned before drying starts.
The service details for this kind of job are on the river and creek flood cleanup page.
- Carpet and pad are removed and bagged.
- Drywall is cut above the wicking height, then framing is cleaned.
- Insulation in wet wall cavities is pulled.
- Furniture, boxes and stored items are sorted into salvage and discard.
What the first day looks like
The crew starts with safety: power, gas and a walk through the lowest level. Then the standing water comes out.
Pumps and truck-mounted extraction handle the bulk of it. Emergency water extraction is the first drying step, because every hour of standing water pushes moisture further into framing and the slab.
- Safety check of electrical and gas.
- Extraction of standing water.
- Removal of porous materials that cannot be saved.
- Moisture readings to map what is wet.
- Air movers and dehumidifiers set for the structure.
Moving items and protecting what is dry
While the extraction crew works, the homeowner can help by keeping dry things dry. Anything that can be lifted off the floor should go to a higher level.
Small steps now reduce the amount of material that has to be sorted and discarded later.
- Move electronics, papers and photographs upstairs before anything else.
- Lift furniture legs onto blocks or foil if pieces must stay in a wet room.
- Leave heavy items for the crew rather than risking a back injury.
- Keep wet and dry items apart in separate bins so the sorting is clear.
Drying a basement after high water
Drying a basement that has been wet for days is not the same as drying one that flooded for an hour. Concrete, block and framing hold moisture longer than most people expect.
The drying team takes readings on a schedule and moves equipment as areas reach the goal. The basement flood cleanup page covers the process.
Documenting the loss for a claim
Bellevue participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. A standard homeowners policy and a flood policy are different, so the claim file should say which water came from where.
The best habit is to photograph before anything moves. The high water mark inside the basement and outside on the foundation tells the story better than a description.
- Wide photos of each room and the water mark on the walls.
- Close photos of damaged items and the serial numbers on appliances.
- A written list of what was lost and about when it was bought.
- Dates of when the water arrived and when it receded.
Questions
Is river floodwater the same as a plumbing leak?
No. River floodwater is treated as contaminated, so materials that soaked in it are usually removed. A clean supply pipe leak is handled differently.
Can basement carpet be saved after river flooding?
Usually not. Carpet and pad that sat in floodwater are normally removed, because they cannot be cleaned to a safe standard.
Does homeowners insurance cover river flooding?
Coverage depends on the policy. Flood is often a separate policy, so ask your own insurer what applies before assuming anything.
How is high water different from a creek flash flood?
River high water is slow and can last for weeks. A creek flash flood is fast and short, with a very different timeline for pumping and drying.
Should the water mark be washed off before the crew starts?
No. Photograph it first. The mark shows how high the water reached, which matters for the claim and for deciding how far up the walls to cut.
How long does a flooded basement stay wet after the river drops?
It depends on how long the ground stayed saturated and how much water got in. Concrete and framing hold moisture, so the team keeps taking readings until the structure reaches the drying goal.
Does the restoration team treat the Missouri River and Papio Creek water the same way?
Both are treated as contaminated. The difference is the speed: river water is slow and long, while creek water is fast, so the pumping and sequencing change.